The Best Of The MARSHEAUX Remixes
Dream Of A Disco
In these days of modern ‘remixing’, recordings are often reworked to oblivion with the end result being a pointless club track that bears little relation to the original. In these types of reinterpretations, vocal samples might occasionally appear but everything else is as good as rendered unrecognisable. One of the worst early examples of this indulgence was the Transcendental Constant Viper Mix of OMD’s Stand Above Me
However, some artists take a more sympathetic approach to the remix opportunity and offer beat enhancements, extra melodic parts and instrumental breakdowns to compliment a track in a far more classic tradition. RICHARD X, MARK REEDER, PET SHOP BOYS, THE MANHATTAN CLIQUE and FREEMASONS have proved to be fine purveyors of this more accessible song based interplay. But one duo who outstrip them all with their digi-electro style are Athens based synthgirls MARSHEAUX. Together with their producers FOTONOVELA, Marianthi Melitsi and Sophie Sarigiannidou combine their best synthpop sensibilities with both feet on the dancefloor to deliver some of the best received pop styled remixes of the last ten years with many established artists among their portfolio. These include official commissions as well as ‘bootlegs’ for their own club DJ sets. The gift Sophie and Marianthi have when remixing is they always manage to enhance a song with their stamp while retaining the core essence of the original… simple in theory but in reality, not an easy thing to do!
So with a new album from Sophie and Marianthi still a while away, here then are MARSHEAUX’s best eighteen remixes to check out, in alphabetical order by artist. The Electricity Club believes this impressive collection would make a rather good compilation album. Perhaps it could be called Dream Of A Disco
CLIENT It’s Not Over (2008)
MARSHEAUX took their visual inspiration from CLIENT so when they toured Germany together in 2008, it was a most perfect pairing. On It’s Not Over, some Hellenic shine is added to CLIENT’s Cold War chic for a slice of electro perfection. Sarah Blackwood’s vocal is given space to breathe while the sharpened glitterball backing retains the fuzzy edge of the original but with some additional Eurocentric riffage.
Available on the CD EP It’s Not Over via Out Of Line Records Germany. Listen on YouTube http://youtu.be/P1A9d6kU7JE
DAYBEHAVIOR It’s A Game (2011)
This synth trio hail from Stockholm but with singer Paulinda’s Italian heritage, a Mediterranean flavour colours their cooler Nordic spirit. So with that in mind, come the bouncy remix of an already brilliant track, this version of It’s A Game could easily be mistaken for one of Sophie and Marianthi’s own recordings.
Available on the download single It’s A Game via Graplur Records Sweden. Listen on YouTube http://youtu.be/ebyVLJKzApo
DEPECHE MODE A Pain That I’m Used To (2007)
Already a magnificent brooding epic in its original form, this mighty opener to the Playing The Angel album was brilliantly transformed by MARSHEAUX, adding their own sparkling top end dynamic. Although never officially released, this was voted top remix in a poll of DEPECHE MODE fans.
Unreleased at time of writing, listen on YouTube http://youtu.be/tFE3xUbrMEE
ELECTROBELLE Mirrorball (2008)
The original first appeared in 2008 on an EMI Greece related compilation as part of the lead up to a full single release by Undo Records. However, this did not materialise and it wasn’t until Autumn 2010 that it was issued in its own right as an independent EP. The original was good but MARSHEAUX’s remix was even better. The girls toughened Mirrorball up to an EU friendly dancefloor splendour with additional air-synth riffage and interluding attacks that added some extra energy to proceedings.
Available on the CD EP Mirrorball via Eden Records
Also available on the 2CD compilation Electronically Yours Vol1 via Undo Records from The Electricity Club shop
MYLÈNE FARMER N’aie Plus D’amertume (2011)
Gallic songstress MYLÈNE FARMER is her country’s equivalent of MADONNA if slightly less controversial and diva-ish. Her sound does seem to benefit from disco enhancements, having already scored a No1 in her own country with the MOBY/MANHATTAN CLIQUE collaboration Crier La Vie. Almost translating as “do more bitterness”, this ballad is given a dreamy uptempo facelift by MARSHEAUX which is pop perfection.
Previously available as a free download, listen on YouTube http://youtu.be/Er_fx27xMcE
THE HUMAN LEAGUE Sky (2011)
Like a post mid-life update of 1984’s Louise for the new millennium, Philip Oakey says Sky is about “meeting dead girls in bars”. Suitably sombre and monotone synthpop for The Vampire Diaries generation, Sky is proof that Da League can still come up with great tunes. MARSHEAUX’s busy pulsing adds more fortified Italo elements without disrupting the original’s wonderful melancholy and livens the tempo.
Unreleased at time of writing
HURTS Better Than Love (2010)
Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Adamson’s HI-NRG ditty underwent many manifestations having been originally part of their previous band DAGGERS’ live set. The fastest paced song in the HURTS catalogue, MARSHEAUX’s version hypnotised with its frenetic dancefloor friendliness and sequencing. Again retaining all the best euphoric elements of the song, this remix simply sparkles with optimism.
Unreleased at time of writing, listen on YouTube http://youtu.be/UzFZ_H5kQVQ
IN-VOX featuring ANDY BELL Will I Ever? (2004)
Ever wondered how ERASURE would have sounded doing Go West
Available on the CD single Will I Ever? via Sony Music Greece and Columbia Records Austria. Listen on YouTube http://youtu.be/YvkwXKlvZwk
KID MOXIE Medium Pleasure (2009)
KID MOXIE’s stunning lead singer Elena Chabila gives a cynical snarl as she waxes lyrical about how society accepts the culturally mundane and mediocre. With a tedious evening at Manchester MEN Arena led by Coldplay, Snow Patrol and Elbow for Children In Need warmly received by the masses, this just rings so true. Thankfully, MARSHEAUX’s interpretation of Medium Pleasure is anything but mundane and mediocre, with rhythmical life enhancement through exposure to cool female fronted electro guaranteed.
Available on the Greek CD edition of Selector via Undo Records
MESH Crash (2006)
Adding some light into the dark industrialists’ repertoire, this bleepy reworking emphasises MESH’s sometimes hidden knack for rousing and catchy electronic tunes. With some of the rockier tendencies stripped away, it becomes club friendly gothic pop that retains the all the dynamic tension and synth soloing of its parent recording. It’s almost like DEPECHE MODE go disco, complete with a lift from It’s No Good!
Available on the Greek CD edition of We Collide via Undo Records. Listen on YouTube http://youtu.be/836lyXwGDjU
MIRRORS Into The Heart (2011)
Christened the ‘Greek Girls Are Not Easy’ mix, Sophie and Marianthi turn MIRRORS’ most accessible track into a sensational neo-robotic danceathon. The as-yet-unreleased extended version, which was exclusively premiered on The Electricity Club, adds even more sharp synth counterpoints to the majestic singalong with the whole package proving that Synth Britannia influences are nothing to be ashamed of.
Available on the Greek CD edition of Lights & Offerings via Undo Records. Listen on YouTube http://youtu.be/77f812hkDBg
MOBY Lift Me Up (2005)
The original version was used as the theme for the UK’s Formula 1 coverage for a few years in the noughties and while it doesn’t have the instant resonance that FLEETWOOD MAC’s The Chain
Unreleased at time of writing, listen on YouTube: http://youtu.be/nVvn7g9p-fc
OMD She’s Leaving (2008)
Technically, this is not a remix as it started life as a cover version of the Architecture And Morality
Unreleased at time of writing, listen on YouTube http://youtu.be/ly6JDo8o1I0
KATY PERRY Hot ‘N’ Cold (2009)
KATY PERRY kissed a girl (plus Russell Brand) and liked it but behind all the shock tactics was some quality songs written by Cathy Dennis and in the case of Hot ‘N’ Cold, Swedish megapop producer Max Martin. Taking its cue from the PET SHOP BOYS remix of THE KILLERS’ Read My Mind
Available exclusively as an iTunes download single via EMI Records Greece
SAKIS ROUVAS Shake It (2004)
MARSHEAUX went to the Eurovision Song Contest with their electro assisted radio mix of this saucy uptempo number. SAKIS ROUVAS, who could be considered Greece’s own RICKY MARTIN, came third in proceedings and went to No1 in his home country. While Shake It is not exactly a work of genius, it is good fun and did considerably better than the UK’s entry which came sixteenth. With the momentum from the success of Shake It, Greece actually won with ELENA PAPARIZOU in the following year while Sakis himself represented Greece again in 2009, coming seventh despite being pre-show favourite.
Available on the CD Single Shake It via EMI Records
SALLY SHAPIRO Jackie Jackie (2010)
SALLY SHAPIRO is the Queen of Scandinavian electropop and has won many admirers. With her wispy vocal and discotheque tendencies, she shares a musical affinity with MARSHEAUX. Interestingly though, the original of this was more of a pretty crystalline ballad. So MARSHEAUX added a 2010 percussive backbone to give it disco potential and thereby construct an uplifting anthem in time for the new decade.
Unreleased at time of writing, listen on YouTube: http://youtu.be/Zm1KCEZ2kug
TAREQ Mosquito (2011)
Greco Jordanian Tareq Souleiman was previously the lead singer of TECH SOIR and his vocal timbres make him electro’s answer to INXS’ Michael Hutchence as his cover of Need You Tonight indeed shows. Mosquito’s relaxed but pacey drum ‘n’ pop was the superb highlight from his first solo album Cocoon. Here though, MARSHEAUX take the pace down to a slower off-beat groove for an even greater chilled mood with Marianthi’s soft vocals, symphonic strings and KRAFTWERK’s Vako Orchestron choirs from Radio-Activity added to the mix.
Unreleased at time of writing, listen on Souncloud: http://soundcloud.com/tareqdisco/tareq-mosquito-marsheaux-remix
http://www.facebook.com/Tareqdisco
TIGER BABY Girlfriend (2006)
Dream laden electro from Copenhagen, TIGER BABY are another act who could be mistaken for MARSHEAUX with that synthpop vibe combined with sweetly gorgeous vocals from Pernille Pang. Stylistically, this has all the impressive hallmarks of the MARSHEAUX sound combined with the unmistakeable melodic sensibility that Scandinavian pop acts seem to naturally possess.
Available on the CD single Girlfriend via Gunhero Records Denmark
Several of the remixes listed including UK online exclusives of THE HUMAN LEAGUE and KATY PERRY are available to listen to on The Electricity Club’s audio player for a limited period. For best results, please clear your browser’s cache to ensure the audio player is updated.
With thanks to MARSHEAUX, all at Undo Records, EMI Greece and Wall Of Sound.
Text by Chi Ming Lai
3rd December 2011
